Given below are two statements. In the light of the above statements, choose the most correct answer from the options given below.

Statement I:In a democracy, the mass media are designated as the fourth pillar of society.

Statement II:The mass media do not have the ability to set the agenda for the audience to discuss and debate.

ABoth Statement I and Statement II are true

BBoth Statement I and Statement II are false

CStatement I is true but Statement II is false ✓ Correct

DStatement I is false but Statement II is true

Correct answer: (C) Statement I is true but Statement II is false

Explanation

Statement 1 is true and statement 2 is false about the mass media in a democracy.

Statement 1 correctly names the mass media as the fourth pillar of society, watching over the other institutions.

As a watchdog they inform citizens and hold power to account alongside the legislature, executive and judiciary.

Statement 2 is false in claiming the mass media lack the ability to set the agenda for public discussion.

Agenda-setting research shows media strongly shape which issues audiences think about and debate.

By foregrounding some topics and downplaying others, the media steer the very agenda statement 2 denies them.

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